Well tester



2 'sheets-sheet 1 WELL TESTER A. HFLETCHER Filed Jllly 14, 1934 Dec. 2s, 1937.

Dec. 28, 1937.

' A. HL FLETCHER WELL TESTER Filed July v14', 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2- Patented Dec. 28, y1937 VUNITED 'STATES WELL TESTER Allen H. Fletcher, Bakersfield, Calif., assigner of three-ninths to George D. Slusher, two-ninth;

to Burton W.v McCune, and' two-ninths to Ber-I nard P. Meyer, all of Bakersfield, Calif.

Application July 14, 1934, serial-No. '135,252

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a. testing device and relates more particularly to awell tester. A general object of the present invention is to provide a practical, effective and improved well tester.

During the drilling of oiland gas'wells. itis ncustomary to case`or line the wells with tubular casings. The lower ends of the wellcasings are cementedV in place to seal the wells and cas-`v ings against the entrance of water. Water tests are made to determine if the water has been completely sealed oi by the cementing in of the lower `ends of the casings.

An object of this invention is to provide a reliable Well tester that is loperatable to make sat7 isfactory water tests and with suitable modicaytions is operatable to test the earth formation/in a gas or oil well to determine its productivity or other characteristics. /v

Another object o the invention is to provide a well tester including a packer for sealing with the interior of a well casing or with the wall Aof a well, means for removing fluid from below the invention means is provided for admittingthe well pressures or hydrostatic pressures below the packer upon the completion of the test; whereby the packer maybe released withoutvdifliculty.

Another object of the invention is to providea Y well tester lof the character mentionedthat includes a pump unit for withdrawing iluid from below the packer and means adapted to be actuated by the reciprocating element of the pump toi equalize the pressures at the opposite sides of the packer to provide for the easy release lof the packer. v

Another objectof the invention is to provide a well tester of the character mentioned that includes means adapted to be actuated by rotation of the teststring to equalize the pressures on` the packerl and thus provide for its ready release.

Upon the completion of af well test a substantially reduced pressure may exist belowgthe packer making it dangerous or at least undesirable vto equalize the pressures 0n the packer by exerting an upstrain on the string to move the reciprocating eloperative by accumulations of sand or other solid formation in a well. f

(Cl. 16e-1) ement of the pump for'the purpose of actuating the means mentioned above. in which case the test string may be turned to uncover relief ports and unseat valves to admit the well pressures below the packer. .i

Another object of the invention is to provide a.

well tester of the character mentioned in) which the means for equalizing the pressures on the packer do not materially complicate the device and do not interfere'with its proper normal operation. A further object of the invention is to provide a well tester of the character mentioned that is not liable to become sanded" or made inmatter. s 15 The various objects and features of the invention will-be fully understood from thefollowing detailed -description of typical forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation .of one form of the invention showing it in position in afwell casing during'the making of a water test. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional view of the lower portion of the tester illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional View of the upperlpo'rtion of -the tester. Fig.` 4s is an.. enlarged transvers/e detailed sectional viewV taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional view of V ytheL tester illustrating ythe positions of the parts after the string has been rotated t'o equalize the pressures on the packer; Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal detailexd sectional View of the principal parts of the packerafter the plunger has been mov'd past the upper limit of its normal stroke to balance the pressures on the packer and Fig. is a side elevation of another forni of the invention being employed to make a test 4of the Figs. 1 to'6`, inclusive, ofthe drawings, illustrate a fom of the inventionsuited formaking Water tests at the lower end ofv a well casing C whose lower end portion has been cemented in the well while Fig. 7 illustrates the invention embodied inl a form for making testsof the earth formation in a well to determine itsprodc ZiVity. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 oi! the drawings includes, generally, a tubular body Il),` a packer Il carried by the body for sealing with the casing C to' pack off the lower portion ofthe casing,f andthe opening OA drilled in the body of cement B embedding the 55 lower'portion of the casing, a pump I2 for removing or pumping iluid from below the packer II, means I3 actuated by longitudinal movement of the test string S for equalizing the pressures on the opposite sides of the packer I I and means X adapted to be actuated by rotation o the test string S for equalizing pressures on the opposite sides of the packer.

The body I carries thepacker II and forms a tube or conduit for passing fluid through the packer. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings the body I comprises two threadedly connected sections I4 and I5. A perforated tube or strainer IS extends downwardly from the lower end of the body section I4. The strainer I6 is provided with a plurality of spaced slots to admit fluid from the opening O into the body Ill.A The strainer IIS operates to prevent the passage'of appreciable amounts oi sand, etc. into the body. A sub or connecting member I1 is provided on the upper end of the body section I and has an enlarged socket I8 in its upper end.

In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention any suitable or desirable form o packer may be embodied in the tester. It is preferred to employ a packer that may be readily actuated and released by manipulation of the test spring S. The particular packer II illustrated in the drawings includes an annular body of packing I9 surrounding the body section I5. A collar or sleeve 2li is provided at the upper end of the packing I3 vand bears .upwardly against a shoulder ZI on the body I G. A longitudinally shiftland out of the well.

able member 22 engages the lower end of the packing I9 and is provided with a downwardly and inwardly inclined outer surface 23.

The means for actuating the packing I9 includes a tail piece comprising spaced sleeves 24 surrounding the body Ill and outwardly bowed springs 25 extending between and connecting the sleeves 24. The springs 25 are bowejd outwardly to have movement resisting frictional engagement with the interior of the well casing C. Arms 26 extend upwardly from the upper sleeve 24 and carry casing gripping slips 21. The slips 21 have downwardly and inwardly inclined inner'surfaces for slidably cooperating with the surface 23 of the member 22. Down ard movement of the body I0 results in down rd movement of the member 22 with respect to the slips 21 sothat the slips are actuated outwardly into gripping engagement with the casing C and the assembly of the member 22 and slips 21 forms a relatively stationary abutment against which the packing` I9 is compressed and expanded into sealing engagement with the well casing.

Means is provided to treleasably hold the packer II inoperative when the tester is being run into spaced hooks 28 are provided von one of the sleeves 24 to cooperate with pins 29 on thebcdy I0. This cooperation of the hooks 28 with the pins 29 prevents relative'longitudinal movement between the tail piece sleeves -24 and the body Ill so that the slips 21 are held against actuation. The pins 29 are disengaged from. the hooks 28 by turning` of the body Il whereupon the body may be lowered to' actuate the packer. When the packer II is actuated the .S. In the preferred construction the pump I2 is rocal elements, one a barrel 39, the other a plunger 3 I. In the particular 4arrangement illustrated in the drawings the barrel'30 is the rela'- tively stationary element of the pump and the plunger 3| is theI movable element, being connected with the test string S to be reciprocated thereby.v The lower end of the pump barrel 39 is connected with the body I8. A connecting member or coupling 32 may be threaded on the lower end of the barrel 30 and an opposing coupling 33 may be threaded into the socket i8" in the sub I1. A nipple 34 is threaded into the coupling 32 and into the member 33 to connect the barrel 30 with the body I0. The function and operation of the threaded nipple 34 will be more fully described. The plunger 3I extends downwardly'into the upper end'of the barrel 33 being packed or sealed about by a packing gland 35 on the upper end of the barrel. i A coupling 33 connects the plunger 3l with the lower end of the test string S. The plunger 3l is in the nature of a displacement plunger and has a central longitudinal opening 31 extending through it from one end to the other.

/A-valve is provided at the lower end of the barrel 30 to admit iiuid to the barrel during the upstroke of the plunger 3| and to prevent the returnfiow of the uid during the down stroke of the plunger so that the plunger displaces the uid upwardly into the test string S. The valve comprises a seat 38 and a valve proper 33 for cooperating with the seat. In the particular construction illustrated in the drawingsthe seat 33 is threaded into the nipple 34 an'd carries an upwardly 'projecting cage 40. The `valve 39 is arranged within the cage 48 and is adapted to seat downwardly on a face 4I of the valve seat to close the lower end of the barrel 30. A check valve is provided in the upper end of the plunger 3| to pass the upwardly owing iluid displaced by the plunger and to prevent a return or down iiow. The particular check valve illustrated includes a seat 42 on the upper end of the plunger `3I and a ball 43 arranged in'the coupling 36 to cooperate with the seat. In practice it may be preferred to provide a. valve in the lower end of the body III to admit uid into the tubular body during the upstroke'of the plunger 3| and to close the lower end of the body during the downstroke of the plunger, thus retaining a. column of uid in th'e body to be drawn into the barrel 30. The valve in the lower portion of the body I 0 may include a seat 44 threaded in the lower portion of the body section I4 and a valve 45 adapted to seat downwardly on the face 48 of" the seat to close the lower end of the body. A suitable cage 41 is provided on the seat 44 to enclose and re-V tain the valve 45. Y

The mans 'I3 is adapted to be actuated by manipulationor upward movement lof the pump plunger 3l to admit hydrostatic pressure to the space O below the Ypacker II to allow the easy Vrelease of the packer at the completion of the aioaoao I) in the upper end of thevalve 39. The opening 58 has an enlarged portion which receives a stop or collar 5I on the rod 48 with substantial vertical play. l A stop 52 is provided on the rod 48 and normally seats onthe cage 40 to support the rod 48 in a position where the collar 5I isA spaced above the lower end of the opening 50 to allow the required or necessary opening and closing movement of the valve 39. The rod 48 extends upwardly to a point within the upper portion of the pump barrel 30 and is provided at its upper end with a head 53. The rod 48 is suiiioiently long so that the web 49 does not engage the head 53 when the plunger is given its normal stroke during the operation of the pump i2. When the plunger 3| isA moved upwardly past the upper limit of its normal stroke the web 49 engages the head 53 to lift the rod 48 and thus unseat the valve 39. The pump plunger 3i may be provided with a port 54 which is uncovered at the upper end of the barrel 30 when the plunger is moved upwardly to lift the rod 48 and unseat the valve 39. The uncovering of the port 54 to the interior of the well or casing C of course admits fiuid under pressure into the plunger 3i vwhich fluid is free to pass downwardly through the unseated valve 39.

When the well tester embodies the lower valve i5 a connection is provided between the valve 39 and the valve 45 whereby the valves are opened substantially simultaneously by upward movement of the rod 48 resulting from movement oi the pump plunger 3l past the upper limit of its normal stroke. The connection between Athe valves 39 and 45 includes a rod 55 extending longitudinally through the tubular body. The rod 55 has a slack connection with the valve 39. The valve 39 has a downwardly projecting extension provided with a socket or opening 56. The upper end portion of the 4opening 56 is enlarged and the rod 55 extends into the opening and is provided at its upper end with a head 51. The head 51 is adapted lto have substantial vertical play or movement in the enlarged upper portion ofthe opening 56 whereby the valve 39 may freely move between its open and closed positions during the operation of the pump I2. The lower end of the rod 55 has a slack connection with the valve 45. The rod 55 passes downwardly through an opening in the cage 41 and is provided at its lower end with a head 58. The vvvalve 45 has a socket or opening 59 which receives the head 58. The head 58 has sumcient vertical play in the opening 59 to permit the opening and'closing of the valve 45. A stop 60 is provided on the rod 55 to normally seat on the cage 41 and support the rod in a position where the valves 39 and 45 are free to open and close during thev operation of the pump I2.

After the pump I2 has been actuated to withdraw the fluid from below the packer II and it is desired Ato remove the tester from the well the test string S may be raised to move the plunger 3-I to a position where its port 54 is brought into communication with the well or interior of the casing C above the upper end of the barrel 30. During this upward movement of the plunger the web 49 engages the head 53 to lift the rod 48 to valve fromthe face 4I.

rst take up the slack in the connection between the rod 48 and the valve 39 and then raise the As the rod 48 continues to move upwardly with the plunger 3| the valve 39 engages the head 51 and lifts the rod 55 to open the valve 45. The fluid in the well above the packer is admitted to the interior 'of the plunger 3l by the port 54 and passes downwardly ythrough the opened valves to discharge from the strainer I6 and thus substantially equalize the pressures on the packer II whereby the packer may be readily released by furtherl upward movement'of the test string S. y

While in most cases the pressures on the packer Il may be readily equalized by the means i3 as just described, an extremely low pressure may be .created below the packer by the operation of the pump I2 making it impracticabie or hazardous t'o attempt to raise the-test string S to actuate the means I3. Accordingly it may be desirable to ernbody the means X in the tester whereby the pressures on the packer II may be equalized without raising the test string S. The means X is operatable by turning of the test string S to admit hydrostatic pressures from above the packer ii to the opening O below the packer to provide for the easy release of the packer.

The means X includes a threaded connection between the nipple 34 and the body coupling member 33 that is operatable to move or thread the nipple upwardly relative to the body when the test string S is rotated. This threaded connection preferably comprises comparatively heavy threads 62'on the nipple and the interior of thel connection member 33. The threaded connections in the test string S usually involve right hand threads and it is preferred to employ left hand threads 62 whereby the nippel 34 may be threaded upwardly by right hand rotation of the f ports 63 are `positioned so that they are moved above the upper end of the coupling member 33 to be in communication with the interior of the casing C above the packer II when the nipple is threaded upwardly a suitable distance. A ange 64 on the lower end of the. nipple 34 operates to limit the upward threading Ior movement of the nipple.

Means is provided wherebyv the plunger 3i may be connected with the barrel 38 to transmit rotation from the test string S to the nipple 34. Splines or keys 54 are provided on the ,lower end portion of the plunger 3l and the lowerwail of the barrel opening to cooperate when the plunger is moved to its lowermost position. The test string S may be lowered to bring the keys 64 into cooperation whereupon the test string S may be turned in a right hand direction to thread the nipple 34 upwardly in the member 33 and uncover the ports 63 to pass iiuid from the casing C downwardly into the body i0. The rod 55 and the slack connections between the rod and the valves 39 and 45 form parts or elements of the means X. 'I'he valve seat 38 is carried by'the nipple 34 so that upward movement of the nipple results in corresponding upward movement of the valve seat 38 and valve 39. This upward movement of the valve 3 9 rst takes up the slackness in the connections between the rod 55 and the valves 39 and 45 andvthen causes upward movement or opening of the valve 45. With the ports 63 open to the well above the packer I2 and the valve 45 open, the pressures above the packer and below the packer are substantially equalized Means may be provided to connect the plunger 9| with the barrel 38 when'the plunger is in its uppermost position whereby the pressures on the packer I I may be equalized by rotating the string S after the plunger hasbeen moved to its uppermost position. Keyways 16 may be provided in the body a of the packing gland 35 to receive the splines 64 of the plunger 3l when the plunger is raised to the upper end of its stroke. With the plunger splines 64 engaged in the keyways I0 the string S may be turned in a right hand direction to thread the nipple 34 upwardly and thus uncover the ports 63 and open the valve 45. The provision and employment of the keyways 'Hl are optional.

It is believed that the operation of the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 6, inclusive, of the drawings will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description. The test string S carrying the tester is rst run into the well to a position where the strainer I6 is adjacent the lower end of the casing C or projects Within the opening 0 formed in the body of cement'B. The packer li may then be actuated by turning the string S to disengage the pins 29 from the hooks 28 and. lowering the string to actuate the slips 3T and put the puking I9 under compression. .The springs 25 resist downward movement of the slips 2l so that the member 22 actuates the slips outwardly upon downward movement of the body and the slips grip the casin g C to hold, the member against further downward movement so that the packing Ilis compressed against the member 22 and actuated into sealing cooperation with the interior of the casing C. After the setting or actuating of the packer II the pump i2 may be actuated' by suitable reciprocation of the test string S. 'Ihe packer H operates to hold the body ill against movement during the actuation of the.` pump. During the upstroke of the pump plunger 3l iiuid from the opening O is drawn through the strainer IS into the body I0 and into the lower end of the pump barrel 3D. During the downward movement of the pump plunger 3! the valves es and 45 close and the fluid in the barrel 3l) is displaced by the plunger and forced upwardly into the string S. In this manner the fluid in the opening O is pumped into the string Sand is trapped therein by the valve 43 to be withdrawn in the string when the tester is removed from the well. In some instances suiicient iiuid may be present in the opening O or may flow into the opening O in sufdcient quantities to be pumped to the surface of the ground through the test string S. In most instances, however, the liquid in the opening O will have been substantially completely pumped out after a suitable period of operation of the pump I2 and will have been trapped in the test string S. If desired, the operation of the vpump IZ may be suspended for a suitable period and.

then resumed to determine if water or other liquid has leaked into the opening O following the first operation of the pump.

After the actuation of the pump I2 in the making of the test the pressures at the opposite sides of the packer I I may be equalized to allow for the easy release of the packer. The means I 3 may be employed to balance vthe pressures on 'the packer II when it is believed that the plunger 3 I may be raised to the upper endof its stroke without subjecting the test string S to severe strains. To actuate the means I3 the test string S is moved upwardly to move the plunger 3| beyond the upper limits of its normal stroke and thus uncover the port l54 to the well above the pump barrel 30. This upward movement of the plunger 3i brings the web- 49 into engagement vwith the head' i3 and results in upward movement of the rod 48 and unseating or opening of the valve 39.

In a similar manner upward movement of the valve 39 resulting from the actuation of the rod 48 causes upward movement of the rod 55 and opening of the valve 45. The fluid under pressure in the well above the packer II passes through the port 54 and flows downwardly through the tester past the opened valves 39 and 5 into the openingO to equalize the pressures on the packer. When the pressures on the packer il are equalized the packer may be readily released or retracted by raising the test string S which permits retraction of the slips 2 and relieves the pressure on the packing IS so that the slips and paeking are both freed. :Following the release of the packer il the tester may be withdrawn from the well. i

In the event that extremely low pressures exist in the opening O following the actuation of the pump I2 it may be advisable to employ the means X to balance the pressures on the packer il. To actuate the means X the test string S is first lowered to a position where the keys 64 of the plunger 3l cooperate with the keys 64 in the lower end of the barrel 30 and the string S is turned in a right hand direction. This rotation is transmitted to the nipple 34 so that the, nipple is threaded upwardly through the member 33. Upward threading of the nipple 34 brings the ports G3 into communication with the well and causes upward movement of the rod 55 and opening of the valve 45. Hydrostatic pressures at the .opposite sides of the packer II are thus put-in substantial equilibrium. The packer II may then be released as described above and the tester may be removedfrom the well. l

Fig. 7 illustrates the invention'embodied in a well tester for testing the productivity of the earth formation in a well. Inthis form of the invention the packer IIa includes a suitably downwardly and inwardly tapering body of packing I9 which is adapted to cooperate and seal with the wall of the well bore W at the upper end of the rat-hole A. The test string S may be lowered to a position where the packing I9a tightly closes the upper end of the rat-hole A. The'body lb, the pump I2 and the pressure equalizing means I3 and X of the tester illustrated in Fig. 7

may be identical with those previously described. The gas or liquid in the rat-hole A may be withdrawn by means of the pump I2 to relieve the hydrostatic pressure in the rat-hole. Gas or liquid that may be produced by the formation at the rat-hole A may likewise be pumped into the test string S or may freely ow upwardly through the tester 4into the test string. Following the completion of the test of the formation the hydrostatic pressures on the packer IIB may be equalized by raising the test string S to actuate the means I3 or, in the event that very low pressures exist in the rat-hole A, the test string S may be turned to actuate the means X and thereby equalize the pressures on'the packer.

Having described only typical preferred forms thebody with-the string and operable by the string to transfer fluid from below the packer into the string. and means made operative by manipulation of the string for admitting fiuid pressure from the well above the packer to the well below the packer to equalize the well p ressures above and below the packer.

2. A well tester for use on a test string includ-V Aingda body, a packer on the body for ,sealing off the lower portion of a well, pump means connesting the body with the string operable to transfer fluid from below the packer pinto the string, .and means made operative by turning of the string to equalize the well pressures above and below the packer.

3. A well tester for use on a test string including a body, a packer on the body .for sealing off the lower portion of a well, two elements, one a barrel, the other a plunger extending into the barrel, the elements being related for relative rey ciprocation to transfer uid from below the packer into the string, one element being connect'ed with the body, the other element being movable with the string, and means made operative by movement of the last mentioned element past a limit of itsynormal stroke to equalize the` 4pressures above and below the packer.

4. A well tester for use on a test string including a body, a packer on the body for sealing off the. lower portion of a well,` two elements, one a barrel, the other a plunger extendinglinto the'v barrel, the elements being related for relative reciprocation to transfer fluid from below the packer into the string, oneelement being adapted to move with the string, a connection between the other element and the body comprising two telescopically related parts, one part having a 'port normally closed by the other part and adapted to communicate with the well above the packer, and cooperating threads on said parts;l

operable by rotation of theV string to move the partsrelative to one another and thus uncover the port to equalize the pressures at the opposite sides of the packer, and means for connecting the elements for the transmission of rotation from the string to said connection.

.v'packer into the string. and means made operative by movement of the string beyond a limit V 5. A well tester for use on a test string including a body, a packer on the body for sealing off the lower portion of a well, two elements, one

abarrel the other a plunger extending into an end of the barrel, one elementI being connected with the body the otnr being adapted to be connected withthe string whereby reciprocation.

of the string transfers fluid from below the vfof its normal stroke to equalize the well pressures above and below the packer' including a port in one of said'elements opened to the well above the packer by said movement vof thestring.l

6. A well testerA for, use on a test string includ-l inga body, a packer on the body for sealing o thelowerportion of a well, a pump connecting the body with the vstring operable to transfer fluid from below the packer into the string, Ia

'valve for preventing a down flow through the venting a downward flow through the body. one

element having a port to be opened to the well vbore above the packer by movement of the string beyond a limitof its normal stroke, and means for opening the valve by said movement of the string to equalize the pressures on the packer.

8. A well tester for use on a teststring including a body, a packer on the body for sealing of! the lower portion of a well, a pump interposed between the body and string for transferring fluid from below the packer into the string, and

'screw threaded means made operative by manipulation of the string to equalize the well pressures above and below the packer.

f 9. A well tester for use on a test string including a body,.a packer on the body for sealing off the lower portion -of a well, two elements one a barrel, the other a plunger extending into the barrel, the elements being related for relative re ciprocation to transfer fluid from below the packer into the string, one element being carried by the body, the other element being connected with the string and having a port adapted to be K put in communication with the well above the packer by movement of the string beyond a limit of its normal stroke, a valve for vpreventing down ow through the body, and a member connected with the last named element and associated with the valve to open the valve upon said movement of'rthe string. Y

' 10, A well tester for use on a test string including a body, a packer on.the body for sealing off the lower portion of a well, pump means connecting the body with the string operable to transfer fluid from below the packer to the string, means actuated by longitudinal move-l ment of the string for'equalizing pressures on the packer, and means actuated by Vrotation of the string for equalizing pressures on the` packer.

11. A well tester for use on a test string including a body, a packer on the body for sealing oir the lower portion of a well, two elements, one a barrel, the other a plunger extending into an endk ofthe barrel, one element being connected' with the body the other being adapted to be connected with the string whereby reciprocation of the string transfers fluid from below the packer i into the string, spaced valves for preventing down. ow through the body, one of the elements having a port to admit huid from the well above the packer into the body when the string is moved beyond a limit of its normal stroke, and means actuated by said movement of the string for opening said valves. l

12.A well tester for use on a test string including a body, a releasable packerv on the body for sealing off a lower portion of a well. pump l means interposed between the string and the body operable by reciprocation of the string to transfer fluid from below the packer into the string, and means foradmitting iiuid pressure..

from the ywell above the packer to thewell be low. the .packer to equalize the pressures in the well at the opposite sides of the packer.

13. A welll tester for use on a test string including av body, a.' releasable packer on the body -for sealing on. a lower portion of a' well; pump means interposed between the string and the body operable by the string to transfer fluid. from y below the packer into the string, and means actuated by the string through'the medium of the pump means for equalizing the pressures in the well above and below the packer. 

